F.Schubert/B.Cossmann - Erlkönig for cello solo | Thomas Prechal (16), cello

Definitely the hardest recording session I did so far! This dragon of a piece is not only technically extremely challenging, but also holds quite a responsibility towards the beautiful music written by Schubert... Originally for voice and piano, German 19th century cellist Bernhard Cossmann decided to make a version for cello solo. Because there is so much to do for only one pair of hands, Cossmann altered some parts so that it would be playable for the cello (and therefore become more convenient for the listener's ear!). Maybe one should rather call it a ‘parody’ of sort than an arrangement:)… Of course, one could argue if this version does justice to the original masterwork by Schubert. However, I believe that one can approach this piece rather as an extremely beautiful cello etude based on Schubert's work than as an imitation of the song. If so, I think this work is amazingly written for the cello and definitely a contribution to the (cello) repertoire! As a cellist, I had great fun exploring (literally) every corner of the cello with this piece...
 
Cossmann initially wrote this work for exclusive use by his student Heinrich Kiefer, who, according to Cossmann, was one of the few cellists with the (technical) level to bring this piece to life. It makes me wonder: would Cossmann have approved of this recording...? :))
 
F.Schubert / B.Cossmann - 'Erlkönig' for cello solo Thomas Prechal (16), cello
I was greatly helped with the camerawork of my talented sister Larissa (check out her YouTube-channel and website: https://wonderfulcreatures.nl/).

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Thomas Prechal (30-11-2004) is a cellist who also likes to compose. He started playing the cello at the age of five under the tutelage of Lenian Benjamins and is currently taking lessons with Jan-Ype Nota at the Academie Muzikaal Talent in Utrecht, and with Michel Strauss at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague. He has participated in masterclasses with Raphael Pidoux, Jerôme Pernoo, Jens-Peter Mainz, Wen-Sinn Yang, Harro Ruijsenaars, Qin Li-Wei and Colin Carr. Together with his string quartet, he has received lessons from members of the Jerusalem, Quiroga and Casals Quartets.

Thomas has won prizes in the ‘Britten’, ‘Archipel’ and ‘Maassluise Muziekweek’ music competitions, and at the 'Gustav Mahler', ‘Edmond Baert’, ‘Bohuš Heran’ and ‘David Popper’ international cello competitions. He has performed as a soloist with several youth and professional orchestras in concertos by Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens and Bruch.

In addition to his cello playing, Thomas likes to improvise and compose music. As a composer, he has won first and second prize at the 'Prinses Christina’ competition. He has written various pieces for cello and piano, etudes and caprices for cello solo, various cello ensemble pieces, various chamber music pieces, a ‘Rhapsody for cello and string orchestra’ (premiered and recorded with the Haydn Youth String Orchestra, and performed with the Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchestr Pforzheim), ‘Symbiosis’ for two celli and string orchestra (premiered with the Stuttgarter Kammerorchestr), ‘Phoenix’ for cello and symphony orchestra (premiered with the North Netherlands Symphony Orchestra) and ‘Ephémère for string quintet (premiered at Salle Cortot Paris).

Thomas is currently playing on a cello build by Benjamin Banks in 1785, kindly loaned from the Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds.

Видео F.Schubert/B.Cossmann - Erlkönig for cello solo | Thomas Prechal (16), cello канала Thomas Prechal